Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Did You Ever Wonder??

A few weeks ago I was at Wed night quilting with the ladies and they were laying out their borders on their layer cake quilts. I found myself talking about proportions and how when I make a quilt I sometimes have a preconceived idea of what I *think* a border size should be. Do you do that? Then I find that when I lay border fabric by the quilt sometimes what I think will be right just isn't visually pleasing! So what I have found is that what I end up liking is usually a derivative of some measurement in the quilt. I did some research and found out about the Golden Ratio (Phi) and the Fibronacci Sequence. Basically (and I *mean* basic) that most things that are pleasing to us follow this ratio, in both nature and in art. I have put in some links for you to read better explanations than mine. I just know that I have found that it works better for me to lay a border next to the quilt and get it so it just "looks right" rather than using a pre determined number for the size of the border. Try it and let me know if it works for you too!

So that was one thing I have been wanting to talk about for awhile now. The other thing is some of the "buzz" going on in blog land about keeping it real. Have you read this post by Stitched in Color? You should. It is very interesting and made me stop to think about how I feel about this topic. She talks about things we don't say on our blogs. Sometimes it is difficult to say what you really think for various reasons. You know people you know IRL read so you can't say what you think about "X" or you don't want to not feel like a part of the group because you don't like the quilt de jour going around blogland, or you don't want to show your failures or no one will read what you have to say etc. Aneely Hoey just wrote about something along that line too. As did Krista at Poppy Prints, I happen to agree with everything she had to say!

So all that being said, that is one of the reasons I put up the first part of this post. It was a real life conversation about something that happened recently. I thought it was interesting, and maybe you will too. If not feel free to mosey along and read something else. I think I have tried to keep it real here. I did take a post down that some of my IRL friends (?) had a problem with and now I wish I had not. I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things (not all quilt related). Mostly I keep them to myself and try to keep this about quilting, sometimes they overflow on to this blog. Again, if they are not your cup of tea please move along (but I hope you come back). Being positive and encouraging each other is the most important thing we can do here. I like to think I have been those things to some people. I do try. I love to read blogs for inspiration but I like to know that the people that write them struggle with the same things I do. Don't you? Some days your day SUCKS!! Some times your life is amazing. Share it. Do we all want to know everything all the time? Probably not, but a little peek keeps us all connected. Remember awhile back when dumbing down of quilting was being talked about? I think what Krista said about not judging others or putting your expectations for yourself on others is good to keep in mind!

Alright, that's all I'm going to say about that for now! I do have something quilty to share with you today too. (I know, I'm *finally* going to talk about something quilt related!) I managed to put together the back for my tumbler quilt. The finished top is 79 x 90". I had already decided to put 2 rows of tumbler blocks together to use on the back and let me just say it worked out perfectly!! I used my Kona Snow horizontally and cut it at the width plus about 6", and trimmed off the selvage edge . I cut 2 pieces this way and used the 2 rows of tumblers inbetween. This made the length work out exactly right for this quilt top. I managed to get a quick pic (although not a particularly good one) today so I could show you before it goes to the quilter.

See that white tumbler in the center? I am thinking I may just make that the label!! I had not planned on it but am now thinking it would work out perfectly!! ~XOP~

17
comments:

I tend to use odd numbers/sizes for borders rather than even numbers... but it's more visual than anything... lay everything out and see how it grabs ya...

I do like that white block in your tumbler strip... I have a tumbler quilt on the "make this year" list and will definitely make extra for a strip on the back now that I see you can include one block as the quilt label! Thanks!

Funny you mention the borders and the layer cake quilt. I added two extra borders and it squared up the quilt. It ended up being an extra 8 inches all around, but I had a 4x3 grid so the extra 12 inches from the extra block was countered with the extra 8 inch borders. Did any of that make sense?! Anyway, short version, the quilt looks more square. I still love it though. I read the Stitched in Color blog and I agree with 3 points. I laughed out loud at some of the comments. While quilters can be super nice people, they can be meanies as well. Yes, I said 'meanies'.

I read a number of blogs (yours too :D) and find great inspiration in them. However, I am also brought to laughter and tears from the tidbits of reality that are often interjected. This is what endears other bloggers/crafts people to us, the readers. It is sad to see negative comments in blogland, though they frequently are posted (usually by anonymous, go figure), but mostly it is encouragement and kindness. Why is it a faux pas to say you do not like the current trend? After, all you will probably like the next one :)

I usually can tell what size is right for my borders by just looking at them. I have, however, been known to use the Fibronacci method when I am in doubt. Funny thing is, the mathematical number is generally very close to the one I thought would work anyway.Love your blog, wish I was as faithful writing on mine!!

Not great with math I just keep working with it until it looks right like number two's quilt top I finished the first of the year, which I may add is still waiting to be quilted at our local quilters. I like REAL, I do. I just am not ready to give out all my real yet. I think the white tumbler would be a great label spot! did I miss the front of the quilt reveal? Or am I just forgetful because I try to always come by.

actually...the only opinion I would write here is: a person would have to be a WHEELY trusted friend and have along side of them at LEAST one whole pound of salt, before I would share meee O-pin-eee-OHNIES.

I think nature is our best inspiration for colours and ratios in quilting - and a Fibonacci chart is a useful tool if you are not confident to do it by 'eye'. But I usually do it by eye - lol.

Thanks for a good post on some of the discussions occuring at the moment. I usually ignore some of this sort of talk because it is really easy to spout off in blogland and there is no real accountability for what is said. Having said that, I did offer my thoughts along - the summary of which is that we must make quilts that please us in style and manner. Keep blogging in perspective and real - and focus our head and heart at home with people who know us and love us. And I think that that white tumbler is a perfect spot for a label too.

Good Grief, I just spent 2 hours reading those comments on Stitched In Color blog. I'd still be there if I read them all LOL. I hope that these same people actually spoke out on their blogs too (as you did). I think I'll post about this soon too :0) I'll have to go check out the other ones too.

I love your idea to use that white tumbler for the label. You are so good about doing that...me not so much LOL.

I had seen that formula for doing borders on the EQ site. I tend to use a border based on the size of the blocks. What I would really like to do is use interesting borders instead of plain ones but by the time I get a top pieced, I just want to get 'er done and cop out for plain borders.....I can be very lazy LOL.

Thanks for those links. Someone at our guild talked about that and I've always wanted to look further into it. Math is not my favorite topic so I usually just wing it. Sometimes I don't want to bother with a larger border as it gets difficult to deal with a larger size on my quilting frame. I'm going to check out those links.

I play until it "looks right" too - no good at math so I don't even try. If I like it, that's what counts, lol. Yes keep it real. It's YOUR blog and you can say what you want to. I love that you're using that white tumbler as a label.

I have a an art quilter friend who uses Fibonacci a lot. It is very interesting to see how the 'rules' can affect the outcome of a design. I do like things that are proportional and balanced (and in odd numbered groupings), but I've never tried to apply the rules to my quilting!

Nice to meet you, Mama Spark. Thanks for bringing up the (crazy) discussion. I had no idea everyone would have so much to say! I hope in the end that the discussion and it's after-effects will be helpful to our community.

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